Music Program Auditions

Acceptance into the Music Program

Students interested in pursuing a degree in music must perform an entrance audition. Contact the Department of Visual and Performing Arts to schedule an audition during one of the Audition Dates. Alternate audition dates are available. Specific audition requirements are outlined below.

Students are accepted into the program in two different ways: full acceptance or conditional acceptance. A student who is fully accepted into the program has all rights and responsibilities of a music major at the time of matriculation. A student who is accepted conditionally must successfully complete one semester of applied instruction as well as other courses deemed appropriate. Full acceptance of a conditional student will be determined by the faculty committee upon completion of the jury at the end of the conditional semester.

Audition Requirements

Strings

Two contrasting pieces from the standard repertoire for your instrument, scales, sight-reading. Orchestral excerpts are optional.

Percussion

Students are required prepare a total of three (3) audition etudes, one for each instrument area: snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani. The following collections are only suggestions for audition repertoire – comparable material may be used for the audition. Auditioning on drumset is optional, but encouraged!

Snare Drum (required)

A concert-style snare drum etude from one of the following suggested collections:Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell PetersPortraits in Rhythm by Anthony CironeContemporary Studies for Snare Drumby Fred Albright

Students will be asked to sight-read a snare drum excerpt.

Keyboard Percussion (required)

A two- or four- mallet etude or solo from one of the following suggested collections:Masterworks for Mallets by Beth GottliebMasterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillanFundamental Solos for Mallets by Mitchell PetersMarimba: Technique through Music by Mark FordYellow After the Rainby Mitchell Peters

Students will be asked to sight-read a 2-mallet keyboard excerpt.

Timpani (required)

An etude from one of the following suggested collections:Modern Method for Timpani by Saul GoodmanPedal to the Kettle by Kirk GayConcepts for Timpani by John Beck

Students will be asked to demonstrate a basic timpani tuning.

Drumset (optional but encouraged!)

Prepare a variety of standard musical styles/grooves. For example:

Swing

Latin

Funk

Students will be asked to demonstrate each style, and then to “trade fours” (four measures of time followed by four measures of solo).

Woodwinds and Brass

Two contrasting selections from the standard repertoire for your instrument, major scales, chromatic scale, and sight-reading.

Piano

Two contrasting pieces from the standard piano repertoire, performed from memory, and sight-reading.

Voice

One song from the standard vocal repertoire, performed from memory, and sight-reading. Any member of the voice faculty can assist in selecting appropriate repertoire. An accompanist will be provided.

For more information about audition requirements, please call the Visual and Performing Arts Department at 325-942-2085 or e-mail us.